Allawi murder allegations just the latest sad episode

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Your exclusive report ("Iraqi leader shot inmates in cold blood, say witnesses", Herald, July 16) on allegations that the new Iraqi Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, had personally executed several prisoners, makes a complete mockery of the Bush Administration's rhetoric of turning Iraq into the next democracy in the Middle East.

Reverend Vincent Zankin, Rivett (ACT), July 18.

The unsavoury news concerning Iyad Allawi killing insurgents in cold blood should be investigated thoroughly. It is not good enough for the Defence Minister, Robert Hill, to say that the journalist who wrote about it, Paul McGeough, should "take it to the Iraqi police" when the incident took place in a police station. If the story is true, it destroys the last redeeming feature of having gone to war, since one mass murderer has been replaced with another.

Richard Paulin, North Ryde, July 18.

If there is anything that shows that some affairs remain indeed very foreign to our Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, it is his remark that Paul McGeough should have warned the relevant Iraqi authorities after he got wind of Allawi's alleged crime. Of course, McGeough could have done so, provided he had first written his will and made arrangements for his funeral.

Who says anything has changed in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein? In fact, there would appear to be little difference between this new regime and the old one in terms of brutality, if we are to believe Paul McGeough's report.

And so Iraq's bloody history rolls on, regardless of legal niceties or any shred of human decency. How sad but also how predictable.

Eddie Raggett, Mosman, July 16.

Why such consternation that Iraq's Prime Minister shot terrorist insurgents in cold blood? Iraq is fighting a civil war and the very essence of war is violence.

George Fishman, Vaucluse, July 17.

Why should we believe this story that has no identifiable witnesses, only ones who cannot even tell McGeough the correct date of the incident?

Llewelyn Jones, Niddrie (Vic), July 17.

Do we now have to go to war again to rid Iraq of Iyad Allawi?

Erika Walker, Budgewoi, July 17.

Thank you, Paul, for your courage, strength and talent. You have shown the human face of the Iraqi people and their struggle to come to terms with the miseries of a war not of their making. Enjoy your time at home.

Pam Pitham, Glendale, July 18.

Nuclear waste disposal is all a matter of degrees

I am concerned about your article on nuclear waste at Lucas Heights ("Here's the drum on Sydney's nuclear retirement shed", Herald, July 16). It discusses the ease with which low-level nuclear waste is stored at the facility, but fails to recognise that higher level waste is also produced by this facility.

Low-level waste was never the driving concern for a waste dump in South Australia. This waste, as mentioned by your article, decays within hundreds of years. Higher level waste, on the other hand, can take thousands to tens of thousands of years to decay. Where will this waste be stored?

Shane Stephens, Marsfield, July 17.

The Herald's front page gave a much-needed alternative view of nuclear waste.

In the '70s, I was a teacher of electronics, including nuclear radiation instrumentation. On a number of occasions my students and I, during field visits to Lucas Heights, took readings of radiation emissions from the 44-gallon (200-litre) drums, similar to those illustrated. Where did we sit? On the drums, while the students took the readings and entered results on their clipboards.

Using the same instrumentation, I took readings in the Blue Mountains (an area where I would happily live), and found the radiation, mainly from space, but also from rocks, was about twice that at Lucas Heights.

Colin Tipping, East Gosford, July 16.

Would the NIMBY attitude to nuclear waste extend to refusing life-saving nuclear medical treatment? Perhaps only NSW residents should be allowed to use it.

Andrew Polain, Penshurst, July 16.

More police for Redfern will not solve problems

Since the core problem at Redfern appears to be the increasing distrust and lack of respect between police and the Aboriginal community, where is the rationale for bolstering policing in the area? Policing in today's society should be undertaken cautiously. We can well do without the anal behaviour of many of our current police whose training, particularly in relation to young people and their problems, is grossly inadequate. So long as police persist with their encultured mindset of retributive rather than restorative justice outcomes they will continue to have little positive impact in Redfern, or anywhere else, for that matter. Indeed, their overzealous presence could be harmful and dangerous.

Father Peter Dresser, Catholic Presbytery, Kandos, July 18.

Rank and file police in areas like Redfern can be allocated the best riot equipment with the best training in the world. But nothing will change while party political inertia and government neglect of marginalised communities remains at a saturation level.

Michael Kennedy, Bringelly, July 17.

False move on Fischer

What an absolute joke that Bobby Fischer is being detained in 2004 for playing a game of chess in Yugoslavia in 1992. Granted, he defied international economic sanctions against Yugoslavia by playing, but who really cares?

Andrew Mackinnon, Forestville, July 17.

Calling all kangaroos

Before they cull those kangaroos at Googong Dam near Canberra, should we just check with the US as to exactly how many kangaroos they need in court for the trial of David Hicks?

Sandra Eckersley, Marrickville, July 17.

A life worth saving

It seems that in the Philippines a life is still worth something ("Manila confirms early pullout of Iraq troops", Herald, July 17.)

I applaud the Philippines Government for taking care of its citizens when they are in trouble.

Thomas Heidt, Seaforth, July 17.

Idiots on two wheels

Am I alone in my alarm at the increase in reckless riding by bicyclists? In busy, crowded inner-city streets, confronting behaviour by cyclists is making life hell for both pedestrians and motorists.

Irresponsible weaving in and out of traffic, mounting the footpath at speed in shopping centres and barging into pedestrians, riding against the traffic, pushing through pedestrian crossings and through red lights are just part of their general bad behaviour.

A huge proportion of the offending riders are in dark clothes, have no lights, reflectors, warning bells and are usually not wearing helmets. They are selfish, mean-spirited, dangerous and aggressive.

Far from being good for society, these terrorists of the road have no respect for anyone. The police and the councils are doing nothing about them, even though these riders are flouting many laws and are making a nuisance of themselves everywhere. Why won't they act?

Bicycles should be registered, have all safety equipment fitted and be inspected like motor vehicles. The cyclists should be licensed, or at least have a competency certificate issued if they are to use bicycles as commuter transport. A crackdown on the idiot element is long overdue.

Jenny Ward, Erskineville, July 16.

Creative licence

So, it's not OK for an elected representative of 200 million Americans to comment on our involvement in Iraq, but it is OK for a Hollywood filmmaker?

Richard Wood, Milton, July 18.

Why we choose to drive

Alexandra Smith has brought to light a critical fact ("Can't wait to get on the road again ... on my own if you don't mind", Herald, July 17). The number of cars in households is increasing because we no longer work together, work near each other, work the same hours, at the same location, on the same days, full-time, etc. The very flexibility of the work environment means more cars must be used, and this highlights the absurdity of transit lanes which still assume working conditions and hence travel conditions are the same as 50 years ago.

Still the RTA believes there are many people living near each other who have permanent and synchronised working conditions.

Michael Sobb, Rydalmere, July 18.

One important factor has been overlooked in studying Sydney's obsession with driving. After relocating ourselves close to public transport 12 months ago, my husband and I aimed to leave the car at home and use public transport. After 12 months of regularly being late to work we were reconsidering our options. Last week we gave in and took our car to work - it took almost half the time, saved us money and was a much more pleasant experience. Thanks to Sydney's wonderful public transport, is it any wonder that people opt to sit in traffic rather than wait around for unreliable transport?

Melissa Kervella, Summer Hill, July 18.

The body fascists

Doctor Wendy Michaels neatly side-steps a critical issue when it comes to women being criticised for not having perfect bodies (Letters, July 17). A quick check of any newsstand will show that most of the body consciousness foisted on women comes from ... other women!

Larry Mounser, Media internship co-ordinator, University of NSW, July 18.

Guilty finding

I'd like to congratulate the Australian jury that convicted two men (Letters, July 17) in New Zealand of a crime with which they were not charged, that is, spying.

Aaron Govendir, Dover Heights, July 18.

A vote for states' rights

Those who would see the removal of state governments (Letters, July 16), might care to evaluate their lifestyle if this happened. If country dwellers believe that they are given little consideration by government bureaucrats based in a state capital who know nothing of country life, what could the people of, say, Broome expect of bureaucrats based in Canberra, and what expertise could they expect of people promoted due to their proximity to the seat of power rather than a hands-on knowledge?

Geoffrey Richardson, Port Macquarie, July 18.

Private schools' ethics

A vicious and violent assault among 15 youths, involving alleged striking with a bottle and the possible loss of an eye ("Vicious assault as students take rivalry to snow", Herald, July 16). Just as well they were rivals from "private and independent" schools, or the anti-gang squads would already be hitting the streets.

Dr Scott Poynting, University of Western Sydney, Bankstown Campus, July 16.

Priesthood in decline

The steep decline of ordinations to the priesthood in Ireland (Herald, July 16) should come as no surprise to anyone. To the people of my generation the clergy of a '40s country Irish childhood was peopled with angry, aggressive and less than saintly men. Most had come to the priesthood via obligation or a mother's wish to have a priest in the family. Therefore those who, mostly by default, found themselves in seminaries had the stark choice of either continuing to reluctant ordination or face the ignominy of leaving and being forever labelled a failed priest, a not insignificant stigma in those ignorant times.

I would like to think that, the few that do go on to ordination now are doing so for the right reasons, and because of their lead more may follow them into what is surely, even today, given the strict vows of celibacy, a difficult life path to take.

Eddie Raggett, Mosman, July 16.

Bring on the chemically enhanced Olympics

With so many athletes worldwide being banned from the Athens Olympics, surely it's time for there to be a chemically assisted Olympics. This would only be open to those who use chemicals to improve their performance. I am sure there would not be any problem in finding sponsors from pharmaceutical companies.

Robert Pallister, Punchbowl, July 16.

Shock treatment

Robert Grimley (Letters, July 17), rubber isn't a very effective conductor to avoid static electricity building up on the body of your car. Wouldn't something conductive, like metal, be better? The shock you get when you alight from your car isn't from static on the body of the car, it's from what's built up on your clothes from the seat.

Earthing the car body would hardly matter, but in any case will only discharge this static charge more effectively and give you a larger (voltage) shock.

Chris de Zylva, St Ives, July 17.

League to the rescue

After watching Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup match, it is perfectly clear what Australian rugby needs - a rugby league coach and three or four good football players.

Alan Brand, Hornsby, July 18.

Labor's Senate role

I am beginning to wonder if our Senate is actually a house of review or an ALP house of investigation.

The only time it gets a mention is in direct connection with some investigation it is delving into on behalf of the Labor Party.

Geoff Cass, Tewantin (Qld), July 17.

Save those plastic bags

As the father of two non-toilet-trained children, I read with horror of the attempts to halt the use of plastic bags at supermarkets.

Our friends and family even supply us with their excess plastic bags, which we then use to package our used nappies.

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